Meet The Gloucester Township Candidate: Dawn Sabella

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Nine candidates will run for three open seats on Gloucester Township Council in this fall's general elections. Three Democrats, three Republicans and three candidates running under the Restore GT slogan have filed to run for the open seats.

Patch asked each candidate to complete a questionnaire outlining biographical information, their platform and their stands on a handful of issues. Patch will run profiles using these responses in the months leading up to Election Day.

Profiles are presented here in the same format as the questionnaires given to the candidates. There were no further instructions, and none of the responses has been edited (beyond basic proofreading and formatting). Readers can make their own judgments on how the candidates did or didn't answer the questions.

Here is the profile submitted by Dawn Sabella.

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

I live in GT with my awesome husband, Chris, and my mother-in-law, Cindy.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Eastern University - Bachelor of Science in Business Management

Occupation

Business Administrator

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://restoregt.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

A person goes where they are called. I have lived in Gloucester Township for over 10 years, owning a home for the last 8. I’ve heard the rumblings of upset citizens, and like many, I keep questioning why my taxes are increasing so quickly and where does the money go? Over the last few years, I’ve considered my role as a citizen here and the honor it would be to help be a voice for the people. That time is now.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The current mayor and council fail to represent the people. Questions about finances are left unanswered, and changes are made within the township with little to no consideration for the citizens. Transparency is not their forte, which ultimately leaves many of us feeling defeated. After all, you can’t agree or disagree with what you don’t know, yet we all know that no response, is a response. Council has a responsibility to the citizens, and that is what I want to ensure as an elected council member. Folks should be able to easily know what is taking place in the township, why it is happening, and come to council meetings feeling confident they’ll walk away with not just a true understanding, but feeling they were heard and respected.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have a desire to serve so that this township can improve together. I have confidence I can serve well because of my background in finance and being able to plan and prepare effectively for the future.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

We desperately need transparency and a willingness to keep the township unified. Current council has ways of avoiding questions posed by citizens, which leads me to believe they either don’t care to know or struggle to comprehend the justifications of budget requests by departments, along with other financial and development occurrences. However, a responsibility of the council is to relay this information clearly and respectfully to citizens.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The RestoreGT team has 3 main platforms we want to achieve: Affordability, Transparency, and Development. There have been a lot of round table talks and gathering of information, leading us to feel confident that we can make a change for the better in Gloucester Township.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My career has always been a balance of finance and customer service. There is a great importance in making sure the numbers work while being sensitive to the individual, ultimately ensuring everyone comes out on top. I take the work handed to me seriously and do my utmost in finding how following policy can still be personable.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have seen my own neighborhood experience an exodus as folks move to more affordable locations. I hear the cries for change, but moving doesn’t have to be the only option. I loathe just the thought of moving. I told my husband when we bought our house 8 years ago that I’m not leaving this house until I die. This town can be better than it is and can run for the people. I am running for council because I see a need. The citizens aren’t too quiet, the leaders just aren’t listening.